Brasserie d'Achouffe (La Chouffe)

Brothers-in-law Pierre Gobron and Chris Bauweraerts brewed their first 49 litres in Achouffe, a village of Houffalize in the Belgian Ardennes, on 27 August 1982. They chose a gnome from Ardennes legend as their logo, and the hobby grew into a business: in 1984 Gobron left ice-cream making to become its first employee. Duvel Moortgat bought the brewery in 2006. La Chouffe, its first beer, is a blond of 8% with citrus notes and a spicy finish. The brewery calls it a Belgian blond; at that strength, beer guides class it as a Belgian golden strong ale. Mc Chouffe, a brown beer of 8%, tastes of aniseed, liquorice and caramel.